Beattie signs new deal

The in-form marksman is tied to The Saints until 2006 after discussing fresh terms with chairman Rupert Lowe, and the news is a massive boost to the club.

17 goals this term have helped push Beattie to the brink of a call-up to the England squad, with Sven Goran Eriksson expected to name the former Blackburn Rovers hit-man in his party for the friendly with Australia at Upton Park.

It is believed that the deadline day signing of both Danny Higginbotham and David Prutton helped convince Beattie that his personal ambition was matched by his club's.

The 24-year-old has bagged 16 strikes in The Premiership alone, one behind top scorer Thierry Henry, and his confidence is sky-high at present.

Another striker staying put at St Mary's is Kevin Davies, whose late equaliser against Millwall kept Gordon Strachan's side in the FA Cup.

"I had the chance to go last week when someone came in for me," he told Southampton's official website.

"I'm not going to say who it was, but it was a Premier League club.

"But I decided to stay here and see if I can get in the side or earn a new contract if I can."